Writer of song of the year, Riptide: James Keogh of Vance Joy. Photo: Supplied

The drummer and fellow band members Amanda Brown and Robert Vickers joined Melbourne duo Big Scary on stage for a performance of People Say.

Despite managing a terminal lung illness, Brisbane’s original 70s rock chick Carol Lloyd gave her all to a cover of Because I Love You by the Masters Apprentices in a tribute to frontman Jim Keays, who died earlier this month aged 67.

Perth five-piece Birds of Tokyo scooped two awards for their anthemic hit Lanterns - the Most Played Australian Work of 2013 and Rock Work of the Year.

Hotshot producer Flume won Dance Work of the Year with Holdin’ On, while Act Your Age by Bliss n Eso and Bluejuice won Urban Work of the Year.

And for the first time the APRA Awards included an Outstanding International Achievement Award, given to Lorde and song-writing partner Joel Little.

“The idea that songs written in this part of the world resonate with so many people across the rest is an inspiring and beautiful feeling,” APRA chair Jenny Morris said.

Despite winning Song of the Year, Vance Joy missed out on Breakthrough Songwriter of the Year - a gong that went to Dutch-born, Sydney-based Louis Schoorl.

The 37-year-old wrote or co-wrote 88 songs in 2013 alone, including Jai Wateford’s In Your Eyes, watched by 1.5 million people on last year’s The X-Factor grand final.

He has also collaborated with acts such as Daniel Johns, 360, Jessica Mauboy and Taylor Henderson.

Despite his prodigious song-writing talent, the multi-instrumentalist is happy to remain in the background.

"I have no desire whatsoever to [be a performer]. I'm not good enough," said Schoorl, who has lived and worked in Australia for 12 years. “I’m not a good singer and I’m not a good performer, I much prefer being in the studio and writing, that’s my thing."